When we conceive of God as a Father,1 it puts us in mind of his mercy, that he will pity us as a Father. A man will be reconciled unto his son easily, and will spare his son, though he be a prodigal, yet a father will pass by and cover all. So I pray to a Father; did I pray to a Judge that will condemn me, or an enemy that would not be reconciled to me, little hope I had to speed because I have wronged him? yet I will arise and go to my Father, and say, Father I have sinned: Psal. 103.13. As a father pities his son, 2so God pitieth them that fear him: He is my child, saith God, though stubborn, and I must look to him. When a mans rebellions witness against him, and Satan vexeth him, and saith, What, dost thou think to have mercy, and art so vile? True, saith the soul, I am naught, but I go to a father. If a child do but aim at a thing, the father accepts him; if he speak but half a sentence, the Father interprets it: So this is the great encouragement of the faithful to go to God, that notwithstanding so many failings, and though so dead and so barren, yet a father bears all. The Lord interprets all, though but broken speeches, he accepts all, and regards all. We have a Father to ⟨p. 5⟩to go to, that is willing to pass by many failings.
When we conceive of God as a Father,1 it puts us in minde of his mercy, that he will pitty us as a Father. A man will be reconciled unto his sonne easily, and will spare his sonne, though he be a prodigall, yet a father will passe by and cover all. So I pray to a Father; did I pray to a Judge that will condemn me, or an enemy that would not be reconciled to me, little hope I had to speed because I have wronged him? yet I will arise and goe to my Father, and say, Father I have sinned: Psal. 103.13. As a father pitties his sonne, 2so God pittieth them that fear him: He is my child, saith God, though stubborne, and I must look to him. When a mans rebellions witnesse against him, and Satan vexeth him, and saith, What, dost thou think to have mercy, and art so vile? True, saith the soule, I am naught, but I goe to a father. If a child doe but ayme at a thing, the father accepts him; if he speak but halfe a sentence, the Father interprets it: So this is the great incouragement of the faithfull to goe to God, that notwithstanding so many failings, and though so dead and so barren, yet a father beares all. The Lord interprets all, though but broken speeches, he accepts all, and regards all. We have a Father to ⟨p. 5⟩to goe to, that is willing to passe by many failings.
- 1Resp.
- 2Psal. 103. 13.
